Langara College’s Restructuring Plans Amid Decline in International Students
Vancouver’s Langara College is undergoing significant changes due to a sharp decline in international student enrollment. The college plans a major restructuring, which includes consolidating its nearly 40 academic departments into five “centres of excellence.” This move comes as the institution grapples with a reduction in revenue from international student tuition, compounded by a federal cap on international student visas.
Impact of International Student Decline
Langara College currently has 4,512 international students out of a total student population of approximately 14,000. This represents a decrease of nearly 700 international students compared to the spring 2024 semester. International students have long been an important revenue source for post-secondary institutions, with tuition fees for international students significantly higher than for domestic students. For example, international students at Langara typically pay $19,137 in tuition, about six times more than their domestic peers. However, the new visa restrictions and overall funding shortfalls have forced the college to reevaluate its operational model.
New Strategic Framework and Centres of Excellence
To address these financial challenges, Langara has introduced a new strategic framework that focuses on long-term sustainability. The college’s new plan centers on the creation of five “centres of excellence” that will oversee academic departments. These centres aim to streamline operations and better align academic programs with industry needs. Additionally, Langara intends to preserve its School of Foundational Studies, which provides associate degrees in arts, science, and interdisciplinary studies.
Langara’s administration is working to finalize this framework by March 2025, with full implementation expected by May 2025. The college is also seeking partnerships with industry, government, and philanthropic organizations to help bridge the funding gap caused by the decline in international student revenue.
Faculty Concerns Over Rapid Changes
Despite the optimistic outlook for the future, there are concerns among Langara faculty, particularly regarding the speed of these changes. Pauline Greaves, president of the Langara Faculty Association, voiced her concerns that the restructuring is happening too quickly and could lead to significant job losses, especially for temporary faculty. She pointed out that some faculty members, especially those in temporary positions, have already lost work hours due to the drop in international students. Unfortunately, Langara’s administration has not provided clear information on the extent of these job cuts.
Challenges Faced by Temporary Faculty
Temporary faculty, who make up a significant portion of Langara’s staff, are particularly vulnerable in this situation. With 40% of Langara’s faculty working under temporary contracts, many face financial instability and difficulty accessing benefits like mortgages or loans. Some faculty members have been working for Langara for years, but without permanent contracts, they continue to face uncertainty.
Greaves also expressed concern that Langara’s emphasis on micro-credentials—shorter, focused courses designed to meet specific industry needs—could result in further cuts to full-time faculty positions. Micro-credentials are often taught by part-time instructors, who are not part of the faculty union, exacerbating the job insecurity already present.
The Bigger Picture: Post-Secondary Funding Crisis
Langara is not the only post-secondary institution in Canada facing these financial pressures. Many colleges and universities have increasingly relied on international student tuition to offset cuts in provincial funding. In British Columbia, international students make up a growing share of the post-secondary student population, and their tuition accounts for a substantial portion of tuition revenue. This shift has left institutions more vulnerable to policy changes, such as the recent cap on international student visas.
The BC Federation of Students reports that international students make up less than a quarter of the student population but contribute nearly half of the total tuition revenue in the province. This reliance on international student tuition has raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of the post-secondary sector, especially as public funding continues to decline.
Scholarships Available for International Students in Canada for the 2025 Academic Year
What Lies Ahead for Langara College?
As Langara College navigates these challenges, the administration is working to find solutions, including potential adjustments to class sizes and retirement incentives for existing faculty. However, faculty representatives are calling for greater transparency and accountability in the decision-making process, especially concerning cuts to faculty hours and program offerings.
Despite the pressures Langara is facing, the proposed changes remain contentious, with potential conflicts between faculty unions and the administration. As the college works toward finalizing its new strategic framework, the outcome of these discussions will have significant implications for the future of Langara College, its faculty, and its students.
The situation at Langara highlights a broader issue within Canada’s post-secondary education system, where rising reliance on international student revenue may ultimately lead to unsustainable practices and inequitable working conditions for faculty. Only time will tell how Langara and other institutions across the country will adapt to these changing dynamics in higher education.
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